As a member of the Utah House of Representatives, I am ashamed of my vote in favor of House Bill 477 amending Utah's Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA). Many of my constituents, after reading the scathing accounts of this bill in media sources, have communicated to me their disgust and outrage at my vote. I offer my deepest apology to my constituents for my actions.
Here is what happened from my point of view. I had absolutely no knowledge of HB477, or anything like it, until March 1. I first learned of the proposed bill in a closed House Republican caucus. During that caucus, among other topics discussed, House Republican leaders explained to us that they would be introducing a bill to make a few needed changes to GRAMA. At that time, the text of the bill had not yet been made available to us or to the public.
